Page 144 of Of Curses and Courtship

“Wait,” Ophelia says. “There’s one last thing I must get from the estate.”

“Can it wait?” Raia asks. “I don’t wish to return there right now.”

“You don’t have to come inside,” Ophelia says, “but this is important to me.”

Once outside the manor, Raia makes no move to go inside. She and Elisa tremble in their seats. Ophelia slides out, but I hold her arm, keeping her in place.

“I must go with you,” I say. “It’s not safe.”

Ophelia’s expression softens. “She’s gone. There is nothing for you to fear.”

“I didn’t see the sorceress disappear with my own eyes, so forgive me for struggling to believe it’s true.” My shoulders slump. “Is it so terrible that I don’t want you to leave my sight at the moment?”

“Not terrible.” Ophelia tucks a piece of hair behind my ear. “But you are still injured. You must rest here. My task will take but a moment.”

My teeth grind together.

“I will go with you,” Tibalt says. “As you know, I am quite the talented guard.”

“You’ve proven that time and time again,” Ophelia says.

“Hell of a guard and a hell of a man,” Helena mutters.

“…fine,” I say.

Tibalt pretends not to hear Helena’s whispered words, but he smiles as he trails behind Ophelia. They’re right. Tibalt will protect Ophelia, just as he’s done for me for decades.

They’re only gone for a few moments, and each second is another stab in my side—not literally, thank the gods. I may never stop worrying about Ophelia’s safety. No one is ever truly safe, no matter how secure you believe you are. I know that now.

And there’s still the matter of whether she wishes to be my bride.

Ophelia finally steps outside, carrying one end of a large portrait while Tibalt holds the other.

“What isthat?” I groan. “There’s no way we can fit that in the carriage with any semblance of comfort.”

“But it is my father.” Ophelia turns the portrait around.

It’s a large painting, though not as large as my father’s likeness—and by gods, her old man appears much happier than mine. He has a twinkle in his eyes, which may be a different color than hers, but they are the same shape as Ophelia’s. Yes, I can see her reflection in this man.

“It must come with us,” Ophelia says. “Or else I will remain here.”

“Aw!” Raia pouts. “It reallymust, Emyr.”

How far the sisters have come from treating me like a prince. They all turn against me simultaneously, as if I’m not weak enough for Ophelia alone. Needless to say, the portrait joins us in the jumbled carriage.

At last, with the portrait between us, we embark on hours and hours of travel. Ophelia sits at my side, checking on my wound every few minutes, and the other three sit across from us. Sometimes they sleep. Sometimes they sit in silence. At other times, they chatter on as if they are old friends.

I suppose nearly dying together has helped them bond.

Now and then, Raia and Elisa get a faraway look in their eye, but I don’t expect them to process what happened to their mother so suddenly. Their stepsister being the one to do the deed likely does not help matters, but that’s not my conversation to have. That’s for Ophelia.

She did the right thing. Whether that will help our land heal remains to be seen. There are other ways we can help: namely, our upcoming nuptials. We haven’t had a chance to speak about that, but the ring on her finger tells me she loved me all along.

The full moon is growing larger and larger, brighter andbrighter. My parents will expect me to marrysomeoneif the curse is not broken, and I pray it’s her.

“Where will you go?” Ophelia asks Elisa once, when Raia is fast asleep.

“We didn’t think that far.” Elisa tugs at the long sleeve of her gown. “We only knew that we had to leave.”